Once again, Strong Boulder and Tall Willow were disturbing their mother's rest more than normal. The larger they grew, the louder they got, though Strong Boulder was having a hard time understand this each time Shining River chewed him and his sister out for being too loud. He expected them to be sent to Silver Snowflake's den, but this time around, Shining River gathered the pups around.

"Are we going to see Silver Snowflake again?" Tall Willow asked curiously.

"No. Why don't I tell a story this time?" Shining River suggested.

Strong Boulder bounced excitedly. It was not every day his mother took the time to sit down and tell the pups a story. If she did, it was usually just gossip passed between wolves.

"Now, your father comes from a noble line," Shining River explained.

"But why are his sisters omegas then?" Strong Boulder questioned.

"Sometimes it cannot be helped," was Shining River's response. "But to return to my story, do you recognize the pale lightning strike on Feather Wings' foot?"

Strong Boulder had noticed the mark once or twice, though he had never questioned it. Besides, his father was usually gone too fast for him to get a good look at the mark. He had assumed it was just a random fur pattern, but Shining River spoke of the mark as if it were sacred. Because, in fact, it was.

"It is a sacred mark," Shining River explained. "A testament to your father's line. His mother had it before him, and before that, our past alpha, Lightning Strike. Lightning Strike was a grand alpha. I never knew him, but I heard he lead the pack with pride. Now, do you know why the dogs are alphas?"

Strong Boulder shrugged. He knew his mother was not too happy with the decision, and he had been taught to feel uncomfortable with it, but he never quite knew how the two had gotten there.

"Your grandmother, Moon's Shine, gave up a chance to be alpha," Shining River explained.

"No way!" Tall Willow exclaimed.

"Why would she do that?" Strong Boulder asked. "That's awful to give up!"

"It is truly is a honor to be asked to be alpha. After her father's untimely death, Moon's Shine was asked to step in as alpha, but she gave the position up for a simpler life and turned the title over to her two friends, our current alphas," Shining River explained. "But the sign of nobility still lives on, as she passed the mark down onto Feather Wings. He has told me before that the mark can only be passed down to one offspring. It is a shame you two do not have it."

"Maybe I do!" Strong Boulder exclaimed, chasing his tail as he looked up and down his fur for something that resembled a lightning strike anywhere on his pelt. He knew it was hopeless, but he burned with envy. If he was to be alpha one day, as Silver Snowflake suggested, wouldn't he be more valued if he had that mark of nobility?

"There's no use looking, on both of you," Shining River said. She had noticed that Tall Willow was inspecting her fur as well. "Unfortunately, your father did not pass the mark onto the two of you."

"Does this mean I can't be alpha?" Strong Boulder whined.

"Nonsense. Our current alphas have no such mark. And when Silver Snowflake becomes alpha, she won't have a mark either. But it is a shame that Moon's Shine turned down being alpha so long ago. Your father may have been alpha, then, as would I," Shining River said wistfully. "But sometimes our pack members do not make the best decisions." She said this with malice, and Strong Boulder could only assume the thought of the dogs were in her mind.

"I'll never make a mistake when I'm alpha," Strong Boulder promised.

"Who says you get to be alpha?" Tall Willow complained. "I-I'll fight you over it!"

"Settle down you two," Shining River growled. "Only time will tell which of you will be alpha, though Strong Boulder's larger size and better playfighting point him in a better direction..."

There were hot tears in Tall Willow's eyes as she heard this, which were only intensified when Strong Boulder stuck his tongue out at her.

"No fair!" Tall Willow complained. "I want to fight for it. Right here."

"Strong Boulder, why don't you go bring me a fresh rabbit if there's still one laying out there? I want to have a talk with your sister," Shining River said. "Take your time."

Strong Boulder nodded and ducked out of the den, already hearing the harsh tones as Shining River scolded her daughter. He was glad to avoid that situation, knowing Tall Willow's disappointment at not being in line to be alpha must be great. As he scoured the fresh kill for a rabbit, he suddenly noticed his father returning from a hunt. Immediately, Strong Boulder's eyes were drawn to the lightning strike on his father's foot.

"Dad!" Strong Boulder exclaimed, rushing up toward him. 

"Oh. Why aren't you in the den?" Feather Wings asked.

"Mom sent me out so she could yell at Tall Willow. She thinks she'll be alpha one day, but it'll definitely be me," Strong Boulder said.

"That's nice."

"Why didn't you tell me you had that lightning strike?" Strong Boulder asked, his eyes once again fixated on the mark.

"This? It's just something passed down in my family," Feather Wings said.

"But I want a mark like that too!"

"It doesn't work that way I'm afraid. I don't know what your mother was telling you, but this doesn't mean anything," Feather Wings said.

"Well, she was telling me about how your mom didn't want to be alpha. Why didn't she? I think that was dumb. I would be alpha at the first chance. You could've been alpha too!"

Feather Wings' tone grew serious, and finally, he made eye contact with his son. "Power is not something always to be desired. Besides, our alpha system does not work that way by passing down through line. I wouldn't have been good enough to be alpha."

"That's not true! Especially with that mark!"

"This mark means nothing to me," Feather Wings said. "And it shouldn't mean anything to you. Now, go back to your mother. I'm sure she's worried where you are."

Doubt it, Strong Boulder thought. His tail drooped as his father went off. He could not understand how his father did not want that power, how he thought the mark on his foot meant nothing. His father was so quiet and reserved, focused so far away from power, that sometimes Strong Boulder wondered how his parents had even ended up as mates with such different ideals...

As Feather Wings faded, Strong Boulder quickly looked for a piece of fresh meat for his mother and returned to the den.

"I'm sorry for how I acted," Tall Willow said immediately as he walked in.

"It's fine," Strong Boulder murmured, leaving the rabbit at his mother's feet. His mother again began to praise him for how great he would be, but Strong Boulder's mind wandered off as he watched his father interacting with other wolves in the distance. He wondered what it would take to get his father to notice him.